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China Business Opportunity Symposium Review - Shang-Dao

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Organizer<br />

Strategy Partner<br />

<strong>China</strong><br />

<strong>Business</strong><br />

<strong>Opportunity</strong><br />

<strong>Symposium</strong><br />

21 January 2008<br />

Geneva, Switzerland<br />

<strong>Review</strong><br />

Chinese Companies<br />

Becoming Global Players:<br />

Strategies for Success


CBO<br />

As one of the most influential emerging markets,<br />

<strong>China</strong> has changed, is changing and will continue to<br />

change the global economic landscape. This is the<br />

explicit message that <strong>China</strong> has sent to the world.<br />

Chinese companies are expanding their activities<br />

and several are expected to join the ranks of global<br />

multinationals in the next 5 to 10 years. The Chinese<br />

market is highly competitive for all market players,<br />

both national and international.<br />

As preamble to the World Economic Forum Annual<br />

Meeting 2008, the first <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong><br />

<strong>Symposium</strong> provided a platform for current and<br />

future companies to share best practices and what<br />

they consider to be the key ingredients of success<br />

for growth.<br />

Held in the beautiful city of Geneva, Switzerland, the<br />

CBO <strong>Symposium</strong> has proven itself to be a unique<br />

experience of sharing and networking. Close to<br />

100 guests from government, business leaders,<br />

and academic visionaries discussed hot topics that<br />

included:“Going Public”, “Founding partnerships”,<br />

and “Being local as a global player”.<br />

This <strong>Review</strong> provides highlights from the CBO<br />

<strong>Symposium</strong>. We look forward to seeing you at the<br />

next CBO <strong>Symposium</strong>.<br />

Best regards<br />

<strong>Shang</strong>-<strong>Dao</strong>


Programme overview<br />

08:00 – 09:00 Registration<br />

09:00 – 09:30 Opening and Welcome Address<br />

Mr. Pierre-Francois Unger, Minister of Economy and Health,<br />

Republic and State of Geneva<br />

H.E. Bangzhao Zhu, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of People’s<br />

Republic of <strong>China</strong> to Switzerland<br />

Mr. Hein Verbruggen, IOC Member and Chairman of the Coordination Commission<br />

for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad - Beijing 2008<br />

Mr. Houlin Zhao, Deputy Secretary-General,<br />

International Telecommunication Union<br />

Mr. Joseph Deiss, Former President of Switzerland<br />

Chairperson Ms. Isabel Shuping Mu, President, <strong>Shang</strong>-<strong>Dao</strong><br />

09:30 – 10:45 Financial Services – How to Take your Company Public<br />

Keynote Dr. Martin Steinbach, Head Listing, Deutsche Börse AG<br />

Speakers How to Launch a Successful Listing on International Stock Exchanges<br />

Mr. Jia Liu, Chairman, Jiamei Dental Group, <strong>China</strong> Medical Industry & IPO<br />

Chairperson Dr. Volker Fitzner, Partner and Head Public Listing, PwC Germany<br />

10:45 – 11:15 Networking Break<br />

11:15 – 12:15 Industry – How to Perform a Successful Transaction<br />

Keynote Mr. Jun Feng, CEO, Huaqi (Aigo) Information Digital Technology<br />

Speakers Mr. Jean-Luc Favre, Group Vice President, ABB<br />

Mr. Wei Wang, President, Sinoma<br />

Chairperson Dr. Ralf C. Schlaepfer, Partner and Leader <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group, PwC Switzerland<br />

12:15 – 14:00 Networking Lunch<br />

Guest Speaker Mr. Steve Bernard, Director, Geneva Financial Center<br />

14:00 – 15:00 How to Establish a Partnership Between <strong>China</strong> and Europe<br />

Keynote Mr. Zhengmao Li, Vice President, <strong>China</strong> Unicom<br />

Speakers Mr. Josef Müller, Former Head of Nestlé in Greater <strong>China</strong> Region<br />

Chairperson Mr. Nikolaus Thoens, Partner and Head Asia Tax Group, PwC Germany.<br />

15:00 – 16:00 How to Create Global <strong>Business</strong>es – and still be local as a global player<br />

Keynote Mr. Simon Liang, Chairman & CEO, Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group<br />

Speakers Mr. Juan Carlos Torres, CEO, Vacheron Constantin<br />

Chairperson Mr. David P. Frick, Member Executive Board, Nestlé.<br />

16:00 – 16:30 Networking Break<br />

16:30 – 17:30 “Take Away” Best Practices<br />

- How to set up a successful business in <strong>China</strong><br />

- What are the key success drivers in the Chinese market?<br />

- How to gain and maintain market share in <strong>China</strong><br />

- How will Chinese companies remain competitive in the future?<br />

- How can Chinese entrepreneurs become successful on a global level?<br />

- What can Chinese companies learn from successful IPOs?<br />

Chairperson Dr. Ralf C. Schlaepfer, Partner and Leader <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group, PwC Switzerland<br />

17:30 – 17:45 Closing Speech<br />

Mr. Donghua Liu, President, <strong>China</strong> Entrepreneur Magazine<br />

19:00 – 22:30 Gala Dinner


VIP Welcome Address<br />

Isabel Shuping Mu<br />

President,<br />

<strong>Shang</strong>-<strong>Dao</strong><br />

It is a great pleasure and an honour for me to welcome<br />

you to the first <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> – a<br />

unique and privileged platform where sharing your successful<br />

experiences in dealing with <strong>China</strong>-related businesses may<br />

lead to the formation of strategic alliances and possible<br />

partnerships.<br />

Today we have great speakers and great participants. But, first of<br />

all, I would like to say a big thank you to the Chinese delegations.<br />

My very warm thanks also go to our partners. Their valuable<br />

support was one of the key elements to make this CBO possible.<br />

Furthermore, it must be stated that the Swiss authorities and the<br />

Chinese Embassy have given the CBO <strong>Symposium</strong> enormous<br />

encouragement and support.<br />

Mr. Pierre-Francois Unger<br />

Minister of Economy and Healthy<br />

Republic and State of Geneva<br />

Networking, innovation-sharing, participation of civil society<br />

- Geneva is the laboratory for an exceptional and unique<br />

gathering. The holding of this “<strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong><br />

<strong>Symposium</strong>” contributes to the strengthening of Geneva’s<br />

traditional role: to bring people together!<br />

This day of discussion is an occasion to create as many opportunities<br />

as possible to network business people from<br />

<strong>China</strong> and all over the globe, to establish new commercial<br />

links and partnerships and to encourage innovation-sharing.<br />

Geneva, for all these reasons, is an ideal platform for such<br />

a meeting. It can, of course, count on the strengths of its<br />

international and cosmopolitan environment: an environment<br />

in which the Chinese community enjoys a place of<br />

choice, in particular because it is larger in Geneva than in<br />

any other part of Switzerland. Owing to its history, Geneva<br />

is naturally at the crossroads of constant first-rate economic,<br />

diplomatic and cultural exchanges. Therefore it is evidently<br />

a setting that is a favourable one in which to hold the first<br />

event of this “<strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>”. We<br />

wish the symposium a long life and every success!<br />

H.E. Bangzhao Zhu<br />

Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary<br />

of People’s Republic of <strong>China</strong> to Switzerland<br />

With its rapid economic growth, <strong>China</strong> has become the<br />

biggest emerging market in terms of volume and potential.<br />

This has brought not only the tremendous business opportunities<br />

and profits for global multinational companies,<br />

but also the solid growth for Chinese enterprises. In recent<br />

years, Chinese enterprises have been increasingly strengthening<br />

the “Go-Out” strategy and broadening the foreign investment<br />

fields further, while relying on the home market<br />

as the backing bone. At present, <strong>China</strong>’s foreign investment<br />

and cooperative business already spread in nearly 200<br />

countries and regions over the globe. This puts into shape<br />

of a diversified market pattern: focus on Asia, seek development<br />

in Africa, and expand in Europe, USA, Latin America<br />

and South Pacific.<br />

In August <strong>China</strong> will welcome the 29th Olympics Games.<br />

I believe that the successful holding of Beijing Olympic<br />

Games will not only help the world to better understand<br />

<strong>China</strong>, but also certainly bring more opportunities to<br />

strengthen the communication and cooperation between<br />

<strong>China</strong> and other countries’ enterprises.<br />

I hope that the Chinese and Swiss entrepreneurs present<br />

can take full advantage of the <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong><br />

<strong>Symposium</strong> as a platform of deepening the association and<br />

cooperation, while contributing to the further development<br />

of the Sino-Swiss friendly relationship.


Mr. Hein Verbruggen<br />

Chairman of the Coordinaton Commission for the Games<br />

of the XXIX Olympiad-Beijing 2008<br />

The Beijing Olympic Games are a fantastic opportunity for <strong>China</strong><br />

to welcome the world and build cultural bridges. They have<br />

also become a significant boost for the economy of the host<br />

city and region. In many respects, the Olympic Games in Beijing<br />

stand as a shining example for the rest of <strong>China</strong>, a country<br />

experiencing fast urban growth with significant environmental<br />

challenges. A lot can be learnt and will be learnt in <strong>China</strong> from<br />

preparing and hosting the Games.<br />

However, we have to be realistic: the Olympic Games in Beijing<br />

cannot solve all problems <strong>China</strong> is facing today. But they will help.<br />

They are indeed a modest but significant contribution to <strong>China</strong>’s<br />

integration in the global community and economy. The Games<br />

in Beijing are more than just a major event; they will be a lasting<br />

legacy for <strong>China</strong> and the Chinese people. Millions of young children<br />

across the country will be inspired by the Olympic messages<br />

and values..<br />

Mr. Houlin Zhao<br />

Deputy Secretary-General<br />

International Telecommunication Union<br />

Surely, <strong>China</strong> has changed a lot. Among many reasons<br />

for the marvelous changes, <strong>China</strong>’s achievements are<br />

also benefited from foreign investment and foreign<br />

cooperation. Although <strong>China</strong>’s market has developed<br />

rapidly, and in many areas the Chinese market resembles<br />

European markets, there are still many opportunities for<br />

foreign investments in the Chinese market, particular<br />

in the high-tech industry. On the other hand, there are<br />

gaps between the eastern and western regions, as well as<br />

between the urban and suburban areas. There are many<br />

challenges to improve the situation in the west, and there<br />

are certainly many opportunities for businesses. As the<br />

investment environment in <strong>China</strong> has greatly improved<br />

over the last decade, to invest into the west of <strong>China</strong><br />

should be a win-win for both European businessmen and<br />

the Chinese people.<br />

With the WTO agreement, the Chinese market should be<br />

open to the foreign business partners. It should be equally<br />

true that foreign markets should be open to Chinese<br />

partners. I sincerely hope that more and more Chinese<br />

companies will become active in the global market.<br />

Prof. Dr. Joseph Deiss<br />

Former President of the Swiss Confederation<br />

Such broad progress needs to rely on strong leadership<br />

of the old and well established economies like those of<br />

the USA, Japan and Europe, but also on that of emerging<br />

economic and political power generated in particular by<br />

what we call the BRIC countries. Among those, you will have<br />

noticed, Europe and <strong>China</strong> play a decisive role. Therefore the<br />

question raised by this <strong>Symposium</strong> about how to establish<br />

a partnership between <strong>China</strong> and Europe is very timely. It<br />

is without a doubt that both entities are and will remain<br />

among the biggest and leading world economies and there<br />

is much benefit to win out of their intensified cooperation,<br />

both for themselves, as for the world as a whole.<br />

<strong>China</strong>’s reform and opening-up has greatly promoted<br />

its own economic development, but has also provided a<br />

huge market potential for foreign investors and producers.<br />

Europe has evolved into a large single market, increasing<br />

efficiency and competitiveness, and is also helping to<br />

create new wealth in Central and Eastern Europe. The big<br />

challenge now for both <strong>China</strong> and Europe is to intensify<br />

their economic exchanges and cooperation at all levels,<br />

and to overcome the still remaining important protectionist<br />

behaviours on both sides.


CBO Sessions<br />

FINANCIAL SERVICES<br />

HOW TO TAKE yOUR COMPANy PUBLIC<br />

Chairperon:<br />

Dr. Volker Fitzner<br />

Partner and Head Public Listing<br />

PwC Germany<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Dr. Martin Steinbach<br />

Head Listing<br />

Deutsche Börse AG<br />

The success factors for each company are different.<br />

There are two questions to be considered: 1. what is the<br />

best way to execute the IPO process, which IPO partners<br />

to choose from investment banking; 2. what is the best<br />

exchange to list. There are 7 criteria to analyze the<br />

exchange listing for the IPO: 1.Balanced regulation and<br />

market credibility: companies choice through tailormade<br />

access. 2.Better regulation and high reputation<br />

from well-know peer groups. 3.Fastest listing process<br />

and unparalleled service portfolio. 4.Lowest fees and<br />

cost of capital. 5.Unsurpassed liquidity and global<br />

investor reach. 6.High visibility and investor awareness<br />

indices. 7.Expertise of international partners.<br />

Deutsche Börse Offers Companies:<br />

Simple and cost efficient capital market access<br />

-Entry Standard, General Standard and Prime Standard<br />

offer low admission and listing<br />

- fees and the fastest admission process worldwide<br />

-High market integrity and credibility enhance investor<br />

transparency and confidence<br />

-Access to global investors by electronic network in<br />

modern primary market<br />

Peer group visibility and low cost of capital<br />

-Large and reputable peer group with listing alongside<br />

global brands<br />

-Selection/sector indices and unique media visibility<br />

enhance investor awareness<br />

-Lowest cost of capital and positive primary market<br />

sentiment<br />

Professional guidance and support<br />

-I-POint: diverse information and assistance products for<br />

issuers and candidates<br />

-Deutsche Börse Listing Partner: financial markets<br />

experts<br />

-Expert: native speaker and sector key account within<br />

Issuer & Investor Markets<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Mr. Jia Liu<br />

Chairman<br />

Jiamei Dental Group<br />

<strong>China</strong> Medical<br />

Industry & IPO<br />

First of all, we would like to owe the first round of<br />

successful financing to Chinese government, because, in<br />

addition to market and profitability, a good investment<br />

environment is also indispensable for companies to<br />

prosper. For an enterprise like Jiamei, fund is not the only<br />

thing we need. Our ideal is to combine the traditional<br />

industry with international capital to enter into the<br />

global market. We need the western world to give us<br />

more valuable experience and expertise. For example,<br />

the helps and guides from PwC in our development<br />

are very important. <strong>China</strong>’s domestic banks don’t have<br />

so much experience in listing overseas. So PwC has<br />

contributed a lot to our success of listing overseas.<br />

We have completed the legal structure of our company<br />

recently. In three or four months, we will proceed the<br />

second round financing for around USD 40 million. Large<br />

investment companies are helping us to explore how to<br />

carry out acquisition with the second round funds and<br />

go to the international capital market smoothly. At the<br />

moment, establishing business and generating benefits<br />

are not problem to us. The problem we are facing is<br />

still the lack of management competence and force. It<br />

is possible to streamline the product and standardize<br />

the service, but not to people. So we must establish<br />

unified technology, mindset and quality. We know that<br />

human capital is very scarce and people management<br />

is very demanding. In order to solve this bottle-neck<br />

eventually, we plan to establish three stomatology<br />

hospitals and cooperate with universities from USA,<br />

Europe and Japan.<br />

Conformity to international standard is a key issue and<br />

high concern for the investors in case of listing in future.<br />

What we are doing now is not to list merely for the sake<br />

of listing. What is more significant lies in the fact that<br />

<strong>China</strong> needs its own brands.


INDUSTRy<br />

HOW TO PERFORM A SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTION<br />

Chairperon:<br />

Dr. Ralf C. Schlaepfer<br />

Partner and Leader <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group<br />

PwC Switzerland<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Mr. Jun Feng<br />

CEO<br />

Huaqi (Aigo) Information<br />

Digital Technology<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Mr. Jean-Luc Favre<br />

Group Vice President<br />

ABB<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Mr. Wei Wang<br />

President<br />

Sinoma<br />

We create a secret, a formula. This is the key for Aigo<br />

to perform successful international transactions, to<br />

cooperate with partners from all over the world and to do<br />

R&D in many fields. This formula is “1 plus 1 equals 11”.<br />

This formula focuses on creating new value. When you<br />

create new value, you can share it with your partners, with<br />

your friends, and with society. It helps lead to harmonic<br />

VALUE CHANGE and ongoing GROWTH.<br />

Aigo focuses on R&D and branding. Customers all over the<br />

world need high-quality, trouble-free products. Our target<br />

is to use R&D and branding to make every consumer<br />

happy with our fine quality and trouble-free service.<br />

We began our business 15 years ago with only $26 that my<br />

mother gave me. Gradually, we have evolved into today’s<br />

Aigo, thanks to this “1 plus 1 equal<br />

ABB is organised worldwide in five divisions and all these<br />

divisions are active in <strong>China</strong> today because <strong>China</strong> is an<br />

important market where the ABB’s division portfolio<br />

is supporting the country development. In 1994, ABB<br />

moved its <strong>China</strong> headquarter to Beijing and established<br />

ABB <strong>China</strong> Ltd. Today, the company has more than 8’500<br />

employees with more than 25 joint ventures and wholly<br />

owned companies in <strong>China</strong>.<br />

ABB was recently successful in <strong>China</strong> by setting up a joint<br />

venture in 2006 for traction transformers manufacturing<br />

in Datong, northwest of Beijing with Datong Electric<br />

Locomotive Corporation (DELC) which was founded<br />

in 1954. The total number of DELC employees is more<br />

than 7000, with 2000 technical staff. The Company has<br />

a long working relationship with more than 30 research<br />

institutions, technical colleges and MNC’s that are either<br />

domestic or overseas. The JV Company is manufacturing<br />

traction transformers designed by the ABB Centre of<br />

In recent years, the scope of Sino-European cooperation<br />

has been expanding continuously, and bilateral political,<br />

economic, technological and cultural relations have<br />

been developing steadily. Currently the labor-intensive<br />

products still have a considerable proportion in main<br />

items exported to Europe. However, as the international<br />

competitiveness of Chinese enterprises is enhanced,<br />

Sino-European trade has gradually transformed from<br />

unilateral technology and equipment export to bilateral<br />

export. Chinese enterprises should analyze the European<br />

enterprises’ market demand during the transformation<br />

and build a new partnership between <strong>China</strong> and Europe<br />

through technical and business mode innovation.<br />

Sinoma international has rapidly expanded into the<br />

European market in recent years. The trading partnership<br />

between the company and European cement companies<br />

can be divided into two categories. One is Sinoma<br />

International, which provides system integrated services<br />

11 formula”. Take, for example, the Aigo pen. This<br />

product integrates our technology in IT industry with the<br />

watermarking patent to create a completely new product.<br />

Now the Aigo pen is being displayed in the Olympic<br />

museum and will help to spread the Olympic spirit.<br />

Excellence and worldwide market leader for this product<br />

line, ABB Secheron Ltd located in Geneva.<br />

In order to make a successful transaction, the market has to<br />

be understood. you need to know the business potential<br />

and organization, to know also who the key players are and<br />

who the decision makers are, and to connect with each<br />

other. Leadership in technology and quality plays a very<br />

important role here because the Chinese partners want<br />

to cooperate with leading companies. Local support from<br />

ABB organisation in terms of legal aspects, manufacturing<br />

and suppliers is available because ABB has more than 25<br />

Companies running in <strong>China</strong>. This was also a key factor for<br />

us to succeed in <strong>China</strong>.<br />

To conclude, COMMUNICATION and UNDERSTANDING are<br />

the key issues to make a successful transaction.<br />

for European cement companies in Europe directly. The<br />

technical level and business mode play a key role in this<br />

trading partnership. The technology and equipment<br />

with independent intellectual property right of Sinoma<br />

International account for more than 75% in European<br />

projects.<br />

The second category is European cement companies<br />

investing in regions outside the Europe, and Sinoma<br />

International offers them system integrated services. The<br />

relation between Sinoma International and European<br />

companies is close to a strategic partnership.<br />

The above-mentioned is the experience we have in<br />

building a Sino-European trading partnership. And we<br />

believe that Sino-European enterprises will bring creativity<br />

into full play, form mutually-beneficial trading partnerships<br />

in more fields, and take Sino-European relations to a new<br />

stage of development.


CBO Sessions<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Dr. Zhengmao Li<br />

Vice President<br />

<strong>China</strong> Unicom<br />

HOW TO ESTABLISH A PARTNERSHIP<br />

BETWEEN CHINA AND EUROPE<br />

Chairperon:<br />

Mr. Nikolaus Thoens<br />

Partner and Head Asia Tax Group<br />

PwC Germany<br />

In <strong>China</strong> there is an old saying: Friendship first, business<br />

second. If you want to establish a partnership, the first<br />

thing is to establish friendship. Friendship is the basis<br />

for partnership. This is the general way to create a<br />

partnership.<br />

A lot of foreigners have been eager to invest in <strong>China</strong><br />

because <strong>China</strong> is a huge potential emerging market.<br />

European investors are different from American<br />

investors. European investors focus more on the value<br />

of a company, the historic value, business value, and<br />

the good financial data of a company. We have very<br />

good investors from Europe, such as UK, Germany<br />

and Switzerland. We find that the US investor is more<br />

concerned about the growth rate because <strong>China</strong> is an<br />

emerging market, which should mean faster growth.<br />

They expect a high growth rate. They are eager to be part<br />

of our growth story. In addition to that, they encourage<br />

the management to do something that can increase<br />

market share and value, and make fast return to the<br />

investors. We can not always follow what the investors<br />

tell us to do because we , as management, seek to have<br />

sustainable growth, not simply good performance in the<br />

short term. We established a strategic partnership with<br />

a leading South Korea cellular operation company two<br />

years ago. With similar culture and oriental history, we<br />

understand each other quite easily. However, we are still<br />

expecting strategic partners from Europe and the US.<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Mr. Josef Müller<br />

Former Head of<br />

Nestlé in Greater<br />

<strong>China</strong> Region<br />

Coming to <strong>China</strong>, my observation from my humble years<br />

of experience, is that foreigners usually come for brief<br />

visits to <strong>China</strong>. They return home and are very excited<br />

about <strong>China</strong>, especially if it was their first, second time<br />

there. I think that type of “initial” excitement differs from<br />

the excitement of the new things we’re experiencing in<br />

<strong>China</strong> today. I feel the difference lies in the magnitude,<br />

the size, the diversity and the speed by which things<br />

are developing. This is just unprecedented. It is the<br />

combination of these elements combined with today’s<br />

technology that makes <strong>China</strong> a truly unique experience.<br />

We should respect the diversity in <strong>China</strong>. It is not one<br />

market. It is a cluster of many markets. My view is that<br />

<strong>China</strong> as an emerging market will last. It is again taking<br />

on a leading role, as it had earlier in history. However,<br />

gradually taking on this leadership position is not<br />

going to be smooth and problem free. If one wishes to<br />

conduct business well in <strong>China</strong>, information needs to<br />

be rapidly collected and rapidly converted into relevant<br />

knowledge as well as prompt action, and best practice<br />

needs to be adapted and implemented to match the<br />

reality in <strong>China</strong>.<br />

With regards to partners, we must seek those who<br />

add value. Race, culture or language should not affect<br />

our choice of business partner. The relationship with<br />

out partners needs to be based on mutual trust and<br />

respect, and have a sound business foundation. .There<br />

are problems in <strong>China</strong>, but there are many more<br />

opportunities. If each problem can provide many<br />

opportunities, it becomes a pleasure to try to find<br />

solutions.


HOW TO CREATE GLOBAL BUSINESS--<br />

AND STILL BE LOCAL AS A GLOBAL PLAyER<br />

Chairperon:<br />

Mr. David P. Frick<br />

Member Executive Board<br />

Nestlé<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Mr. Simon Liang<br />

Chairman & CEO<br />

Sinopacific<br />

Shipbuilding Group<br />

In order to succeed in <strong>China</strong>, we should first understand<br />

<strong>China</strong>. People call us global entrepreneur, but I always<br />

consider local governments to be the real entrepreneurs.<br />

They are very dynamic, they work for the local city<br />

development, they push and try to find entrepreneurs<br />

like us and work together. Without their support, <strong>China</strong><br />

could never be like it is today.<br />

Another thing is to understand the cultural difference.<br />

For example, when working with different distributors<br />

from the USA, France, Germany, we adapt our way of<br />

working according to their company culture. Internally<br />

we have separated markets into industrialized countries,<br />

developing countries and Latin countries. We just adapt.<br />

And when we go to the international market, we do the<br />

same thing.<br />

Chinese culture is indirect and flexible. Chinese people<br />

are kind of individualist. They could be seen as a<br />

“monkey culture”: individually, each Chinese is very<br />

strong. If you go to the managers in <strong>China</strong>, you should<br />

really understand that. you should give them a clear KPI<br />

and objectives and allow them the space to fulfill it.<br />

Another cultural difference is what I would call<br />

“friendship, reason & law”. When doing business,<br />

friendship always comes first, then comes reason,<br />

followed by law. Of course, <strong>China</strong> is improving and<br />

changing day by day. yet friendship will always play a<br />

very important role in Chinese people’s social behavior.<br />

<strong>China</strong> is very big and in itself multicultural, with 56<br />

minorities to manage. Even for us as Chinese, when<br />

we go to different cities, we have to adapt to different<br />

local cultures. If you want to accomplish something,<br />

you should spend time there, understand, and nurture<br />

relationships. Today it is becoming easier and easier to<br />

do business as the rules are clearer and clearer<br />

<strong>China</strong> is a very promising market. There is a will from<br />

the Chinese government to create a consumption<br />

revolution—from forced savings/low consumption to<br />

forced consumptions/high growth. <strong>China</strong> has exhibited<br />

stunning growth recently and wants to paly an active<br />

role on the world’s stage. <strong>China</strong> is a difficult market to<br />

conquer: complex and heavy tax duties for imports,<br />

not one uniform market but lots of distinctive markets,<br />

insufficient infrastructure system, and an imprecise<br />

jurisdiction system.<br />

Many Chinese people enjoy visible symbols of social<br />

status. As a luxury brand we could not wish for a better<br />

customer base than this. The wealthy class is located in<br />

big cities and they want to catch-up fast with the rest<br />

of the world. That’s why <strong>China</strong> (incl. Hong Kong and<br />

Macau) accounts for almost 20% of the direct Swiss<br />

watch exports in value, with a 30% growth rate.<br />

How to succeed in <strong>China</strong>: We have a strong history<br />

and network. It is in a way very easy for us to find an<br />

explanation for this. Chinese people are very keen on<br />

their history and appreciation of high quality. If you are<br />

still there today, that means you have good products.<br />

Also, the PRC principle: Patience (be patient to succeed),<br />

Relationship (understand culture and adapt), Cash<br />

(because the Chinese market moves so fast, you need<br />

to invest to keep up).<br />

Our brand strategy: 1. Build-up an exclusive and very<br />

selective distribution network; 2. Develop retail network<br />

in order to educate clientele and promote Vacheron<br />

Constantin’s image of excellence (9 boutiques opened<br />

thusfar); 3. Open an authentic Vacheron Constantin<br />

Mansion in <strong>Shang</strong>hai in the summer of 2008.<br />

.<br />

Keynote Speaker:<br />

Mr. Marc Guten<br />

International Director<br />

Vacheron Constantin


CBO Sessions<br />

NETWORKING LUNCH SPEECH<br />

Switzerland is known for the quality of its financial industry,<br />

and Geneva is proud to be one of its strong regional centers.<br />

We are considered to be a world reference in the wealth<br />

management industry and in the commodity trade finance.<br />

With some 1’500 billion dollars of assets under management,<br />

Geneva counts among the big-league players, thanks to its<br />

500 years of experience, serving kings, emperors, republics,<br />

merchants, companies, governments, international<br />

organizations, and private citizens. Geneva provides an ideal<br />

platform for global actors looking for sound, independent<br />

and trans-national expertise.<br />

I am convinced that the business links between <strong>China</strong> and<br />

Geneva will strengthen in the future, because the Chinese and<br />

CLOSING SPEECH<br />

Mr. Donghua Liu<br />

President, <strong>China</strong> Entrepreneur Magazine<br />

As a matter of fact nobody in the world expected that <strong>China</strong><br />

would develop and flourish so fast. Neither Chinese themselves<br />

nor the world were ready for such a day that has come before<br />

all suddenly. Let me give a simple example, is manufacturing<br />

in <strong>China</strong> better or worse than 5 or 10 years ago in terms<br />

of Chinese products and services? The most prominent is that<br />

the world no longer believed in Made in <strong>China</strong>, Chinese products<br />

and services, in 2007, why is it so? Do Chinese products<br />

and services really have some big problems? Obviously not,<br />

the main reason is apparently the problem of information<br />

“asymmetry”. Information asymmetry may result in distrust<br />

and further in fear that may cause deformation in language<br />

and action.<br />

Who plays an important role for information symmetry? Certainly<br />

the politicians do. In the meantime, our media also assumes<br />

an important responsibility. And the value and role of<br />

our entrepreneurs are irreplaceable. As the commercial language<br />

is understandable all over the world, the success of<br />

Chinese commerce is to a great extent due to the introduction<br />

of such system as the market economy, while Chinese<br />

entrepreneurs being good students to learn from Western<br />

world since 30 years of reforming and opening up to the outside<br />

world. Certainly, as students we have to not only learn<br />

industriously but also apply creatively what we have learned.<br />

Moreover we have to do better than teachers in terms of what<br />

are not in place and make some improvements.<br />

Therefore, I think that the business leaders, no matter from<br />

Mr. Steve Bernard<br />

Director<br />

Geneva Financial Center<br />

the Swiss people share many common values, such as respect<br />

for hard work and for tradition, combined with openness<br />

to technology. We also share a strong desire to provide<br />

our people with a good living environment. The Chinese<br />

President, Mr Hu Jintao, recently reiterated the importance<br />

of a “HARMONIOUS SOCIETy”, and Geneva is consistently in<br />

the top ranking of the best international cities for the quality<br />

of life.<br />

When asked what he thought of the French Revolution, former<br />

Prime Minister Zhou En Lai, replied: “It is too early to tell”. I<br />

believe that if he was asked what he thought of the <strong>China</strong><br />

<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>, he would say: “Certainly<br />

an intelligent initiative to bring together the creativity and<br />

experience of two proud people”.<br />

<strong>China</strong> or Switzerland, USA, or other western countries, should<br />

be more trustworthy to people and create wealth jointly<br />

through information symmetry between <strong>China</strong> and Western<br />

world. I think this is our commercial world’s irreplaceable responsibility.


CBO Partners<br />

STRATEGy PARTNER<br />

PricewaterhouseCoopers provides industryfocused<br />

assurance, tax and advisory services<br />

to build public trust and enhance value for its<br />

clients and their stakeholders. We have more than<br />

130,000 people in 148 countries working together<br />

collaboratively to develop fresh perspectives and<br />

practical advice.<br />

Our organisation is structured as a network<br />

of separate and independent firms, each of<br />

which is a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers<br />

International Limited. PwC member firms operate<br />

locally in countries around the world. By working<br />

together, member firms also comprise a vigorous<br />

global network. This structure provides PwC firms<br />

with the flexibility to operate simultaneously as<br />

the most local and the most global of businesses.<br />

As a direct result, we are able to serve a broad range<br />

of clients: large, publicly-listed multinationals;<br />

small, private, domestic companies; and almost<br />

everything in between.<br />

PricewaterhouseCoopers recognizes the<br />

importance of <strong>China</strong>, both as a huge domestic<br />

market, as well as its impact in today’s global<br />

market. PwC is the leading professional services<br />

firm in <strong>China</strong>, with 12 offices and over 9,000<br />

specialists to cover this complex territory. Our<br />

largest offices in <strong>China</strong> are located in Beijing,<br />

<strong>Shang</strong>hai and Hong Kong.<br />

In order to leverage our global skills and<br />

knowledge, PwC has established a pan-<br />

European <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group to provide<br />

territories with the most up-to-date, industryspecific<br />

knowledge related to their clients’ <strong>China</strong><br />

activities. The Group focuses specifically on<br />

<strong>China</strong>-related business issues and aims to serve<br />

both European companies seeking advice on<br />

how to best structure and approach the <strong>China</strong><br />

market, as well as to provide support to Chinese<br />

companies looking to expand their business<br />

activities in Europe.<br />

www.pwc.com<br />

The <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group works closely with<br />

the <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group of each individual<br />

European territory, as well as with the European<br />

<strong>Business</strong> Group established by PwC <strong>China</strong>. The<br />

latter mentioned acts as a counterpart to the<br />

European <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group. Together, our<br />

group of specialists is able to provide our clients<br />

with the advice they need to pursue a sound<br />

strategy in <strong>China</strong>.<br />

Please contact your local <strong>China</strong> <strong>Business</strong> Group<br />

for more information.


CBO Partners<br />

ADVISORy PARTNER<br />

Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild S.A.,<br />

Geneva<br />

True to the Rothschild family tradition anchored<br />

in a banking dynasty two and a half centuries<br />

old, our main Group headquarters is located in<br />

Geneva, global capital of private banking.<br />

Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild S.A. is<br />

focused entirely on our core business of wealth<br />

management for private and institutional clients.<br />

We have no commercial or investment banking<br />

operations and can thus provide our finely honed<br />

services with no underlying conflicts of interest.<br />

This renders our specialist advice all the more<br />

objective, in traditional as well as alternative<br />

asset management.<br />

Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watch-making<br />

Manufacture in the world, celebrates more<br />

than 250 years’ continuous operation since its<br />

foundation in 1755. Throughout its history,<br />

Vacheron Constantin has continued to perfect its<br />

art through its astounding creations.<br />

year after year, Vacheron Constantin has<br />

continued to build its reputation founded on<br />

its know-how<br />

PUBLICITÉ<br />

and its<br />

/ ADVERTISING<br />

sense of technical<br />

2004<br />

and<br />

aesthetic innovation. At Vacheron Constantin the<br />

CD N° 8<br />

search for excellence is a state of mind, a dynamic<br />

to which each step in the process is geared from<br />

design to finishing.<br />

Where excellence in watchmaking is concerned,<br />

www.bper.ch<br />

Our Bank has over 35 years’ experience with<br />

hedge fund strategies. Personalised service,<br />

customised management, close attention to the<br />

individual needs of each client and sensible use<br />

of state-of-the-art investment techniques–these<br />

are the ingredients of a highly successful formula<br />

that has driven our double-digit growth in assets<br />

under management..<br />

At 30 June 2007 client funds totalled CHF 97.2<br />

billion, up 17% year on year. The number of<br />

employees has also been rising constantly and<br />

reached 544 at mid-2007.<br />

www.vacheron-constantin.com<br />

the challenge is to make the material meet the<br />

requirements of accuracy and precision, which<br />

guarantee exceptional quality and thereby also<br />

the product’s timelessness and durability. Highprecision<br />

mechanics is guided by the quest of the<br />

best. Even the design of the watch is developed<br />

using creativity.<br />

Creativity is supported at various levels within the<br />

Manufacture. In production this attitude allows<br />

Vacheron Constantin to make successful technical<br />

innovations, to manufacture movements with<br />

multiple complications. This stimulation gives<br />

birth to the aesthetic innovations and ensures<br />

them a position among the avant-garde.


CBO Partners<br />

ADVISORy PARTNER<br />

The Geneva Financial Center is the trade<br />

association of the Geneva financial community,<br />

of which it defends and promotes the interests.<br />

Geneva, one of the top ten global financial<br />

centers, is widely recognized to be the benchmark<br />

in private banking; it is also the world leader in<br />

the commodities trade finance.<br />

Thanks to its 140 banks (of which 95 are foreignowned),<br />

650 independent asset managers,<br />

SUPPORTING PARTNER<br />

Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an<br />

insurance-based financial services provider<br />

with a global network of subsidiaries and offices<br />

in North America and Europe as well as in Asia<br />

Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Zurich<br />

is the first Continental European insurer to set up<br />

representative offices in Mainland <strong>China</strong>. In 2000,<br />

Zurich gained a foothold in the Chinese market<br />

through its strategic investment in New <strong>China</strong><br />

Life Insurance Company Ltd.<br />

Geneva Financial Center<br />

Boulevard du Théâtre 4 - PO Box 5322<br />

1211 Geneva 11<br />

Tel. + 41 (0)22 849 19 19<br />

Fax. + 41 (0)22 849 19 20<br />

info@geneva-finance.ch<br />

www.geneva-finance.com<br />

2’600 financial companies, 350 law firms, 1’100<br />

accounting firms, 650 insurance companies, and<br />

overall 34’000 employees, Geneva provides the<br />

full range of financial services, thanks to its long<br />

experience in the banking industry, and the highlevel<br />

expertise of its personnel<br />

www.zurich.com www.abb.com<br />

ABB is a leader in power and automation<br />

technologies that enable utility and industry<br />

customers to improve performance while<br />

lowering environmental impact. Sustainability is<br />

integral to all aspects of our business. We strive<br />

to balance economic, environmental and social<br />

objectives and integrate them into our daily<br />

business decisions. Technology plays a key role<br />

for ABB. The ABB Group of companies operates<br />

in around 100 countries and employs more than<br />

110,000 people.


<strong>Shang</strong>-<strong>Dao</strong> is a non-profit association,<br />

based in Switzerland. Its goal is<br />

to promote business and cultural<br />

exchange between <strong>China</strong> and Europe<br />

by creating networks, organizing<br />

conferences, trade fairs, business clubs,<br />

and other activities focusing on <strong>China</strong><br />

and Chinese business.<br />

Tel.: +41 22 301 66 88<br />

Fax: +41 22 301 55 88<br />

Email: info@shang-dao.com

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